Back at the department, everyone relaxed as if a major exam had just ended, chatting and laughing freely.
He Xiaoyuan received a call from Lu Chen. Opening it, he stepped out of the office, cheerful:
“Lu Ge, the assessment’s over! I got full marks!”
The man on the line laughed:
“I heard. You performed very well today, with accurate judgment and ideas. Congratulations.”
He Xiaoyuan didn’t realize that Lu Chen had watched the assessment live via the camera; he thought Lu Chen had just heard the news secondhand.
Standing by the window, looking out at the city, he said happily:
“I didn’t expect my approach to align perfectly with the company’s thinking. I thought there’d be at least a small difference.”
Lu Chen detected the excitement in his voice: “You’re really happy, huh?”
“Yes, of course!” He Xiaoyuan replied.
“Feels like I didn’t let you, my ‘mentor,’ down.”
Lu Chen’s low “Hmm” carried a smile: “Well deserved.”
He Xiaoyuan asked, curious: “Reward? What kind of reward?”
Lu Chen: “A reward for doing so well and getting full marks.”
He Xiaoyuan, surprised: “You’re actually giving me something?”
Lu Chen: “Yes. What would you like?”
He Xiaoyuan thought it unnecessary, refusing politely:
“No need, it’s too much. Just give me a verbal reward—praise me a bit.”
Lu Chen laughed: “Verbal? Praise? You’re too easy to please.”
He Xiaoyuan, in a good mood, didn’t mind the wording and said: “Yes, I’m easy to please—very easy. Go ahead, praise me.”
Lu Chen’s deep, pleasant voice slowed slightly:
“Our Xiaoyuan is really smart, really excellent.”
He Xiaoyuan felt his face heat up, maybe from the sunlight by the window, and playfully replied:
“Alright, the verbal award ceremony is concluded.”
Lu Chen laughed again, clearly in a good mood.
He Xiaoyuan asked: “Aren’t you at the company?”
“No, I’m out for something,” Lu Chen replied.
Normally, knowing Lu Chen was out, He Xiaoyuan would just say “You’re busy,” and quickly hang up to avoid disturbing him.
But today, maybe because he’d gotten full marks and was in an unusually good mood, he didn’t rush to hang up. Instead, he ended up chatting with Lu on the phone—
He Xiaoyuan: “You’ve been really busy with work. Always out and about?”
Lu Chen: “Not really, just handling a lot of different things.”
…
The third team walked past the tea room toward the first team’s office and saw He Xiaoyuan standing by the window, happily talking on the phone.
Ge Luming glanced at him and said, “No need to call him over. He’s definitely talking to Lu.”
“Obviously.”
“I thought so too.”
Someone teased, “Could Lu actually be his boyfriend?”
“Who knows?”
Ge Luming didn’t bring up that she had once asked He Xiaoyuan about his sexuality and he had said he was straight.
Now, even she found it hard to believe.
Straight?
Even the best of friends wouldn’t be so happy, chatting endlessly on the phone every day, right?
Ge Luming: Yeah, right, sure you’re straight.
By the window, He Xiaoyuan was chatting away happily. When the conversation was winding down and he was about to hang up, he suddenly remembered something.
He Xiaoyuan: “By the way, Lu, our team rotation is almost over. Let’s find some time—I’ll take you out to dinner.”
“Sure.”
—
After the assessment, Team One’s rotation officially ended that Friday.
Everyone stayed behind that day to finish the “final assignment,” ensuring they wrapped up this last shift efficiently and with quality.
By nine in the evening, all the work was submitted.
Jiang Weiwei suddenly raised her hands and shouted, “It’s done! Hooray!”
He Xiaoyuan jumped in surprise.
Everyone else, buzzing with energy, clapped and cheered like they’d been injected with adrenaline.
Someone suggested, “Let’s not go back yet. There’s got to be a nearby restaurant—let’s celebrate.”
“Good idea!”
“Let’s go!”
Yuan Miao cheerfully said, “Anywhere is fine. My treat!”
Xin Rui stood up, packing her things. “We know you’ve got money, Young Master Sanshui. Save it. We’ll split the bill.”
“Exactly.”
And so, the group left the office together, joking and laughing.
He Xiaoyuan walked in the crowd, looking down at his phone.
Zou Fan, slinging an arm over his shoulder, teased, “Really, man? You even have to report to Lu on what you’re doing?”
He Xiaoyuan replied, “Not Lu.”
Someone in the family group had tagged him, so he just responded.
Zou Fan didn’t dwell on it. “Hmm… what should we eat?”
He Xiaoyuan wasn’t one for saying “whatever.” After a moment, he said, “If it’s a big group, hotpot?”
Jiang Weiwei, walking ahead, turned back with a suggestion: “How about Japanese? They have private tatami rooms, and it’s not expensive. I’ll check for nearby group deals.”
Everyone: “Sure, Japanese it is.”
They went to a nearby Japanese restaurant in the mall. It was the perfect time—few people, and a few adjoining private rooms, which they combined into one large space.
During the meal, He Xiaoyuan got a call from Lu. The room was noisy, so he answered softly. Just as he was about to stand and step out to take the call, Zou Fan grabbed his arm, holding him back, and loudly shouted, “Lu!”
Others looked over and joined in, chanting, “Lu! Our hero!” “We want to call him too!”
They were just excited, playful post-shift chaos.
He Xiaoyuan checked with Lu, got permission, and set the phone on speaker.
The room quieted instantly, and the deep, magnetic voice of a man came through: “Stop shouting, I can hear you.”
Then he continued calmly: “Consider this a celebration for finishing your rotation. Eat whatever you like. I’ll treat you today.”
The room erupted.
“Lu, you’re amazing!”
“Thanks, hero!”
“Waiter, bring the menu!”
…
In the mix, Yuan Miao protested: “Hey, I said I’d pay, don’t make him pay!”
Everyone else: Not even comparable. Lu’s got the prestige.
Previously, they could only indirectly interact with their admired Lu through He Xiaoyuan. Now, speaking to him personally via voice call, everyone excitedly talked over each other, mostly thanking him, praising his skill, joking, or asking about his exact role.
He Xiaoyuan’s eyelids started twitching—everyone was way too lively, acting as if he wasn’t even there.
He thought: It’s just a little low-alcohol sake. I barely drank.
Finally, when someone asked if Lu was dating or married, He Xiaoyuan interrupted, “Okay, enough.”
He turned off the speaker, stood up, and walked out with his phone.
Someone teased from behind: “Looks like Far Brother’s taking control.”
He Xiaoyuan ignored the drunken banter, put on his shoes, held the phone to his ear, and stepped outside.
Lu’s voice, laughing softly, came through: “Did you guys have a drink today?”
He Xiaoyuan: “A little.”
“Drunk?”
“No, they were just having fun. It was low-alcohol sake.”
“You drank too?”
“A bit.”
Then Lu laughed: “Just now, when someone asked if I was married, why did you interrupt?”
He Xiaoyuan stood by the glass railing outside the restaurant in the mall corridor. “Everyone was a little excited today. That question felt too personal, so I cut it off.”
Lu Chen: “Not bad. The questions weren’t hard to answer either.”
Then he added, “I’m single, not dating, and definitely not married.”
There was a note of seriousness in his tone, as if he wanted to make sure He Xiaoyuan knew clearly.
He Xiaoyuan heard it and laughed, smiling as he said, “I’m not curious about that, Lu. You didn’t have to tell me.”
But from the other end came, “I’ve answered, now it’s your turn.”
He Xiaoyuan was momentarily puzzled: Huh?
Lu Chen: “Are you single? Dating anyone? Anyone you like?”
Leaning against the railing with an arm for support, He Xiaoyuan smiled and replied, “No, none of that.”
He teased, “Too busy with overtime, no time for these things.”
Since they’d reached this personal topic, both were comfortable enough to be open. He Xiaoyuan followed up: “Lu, you’re not single just because work takes all your time, are you?”
Lu Chen answered directly: “No, I’m single because I have high standards.”
He Xiaoyuan, curious: “High standards?”
Lu Chen gave a short, confirming “Mm.” Then asked, “And you?”
Me?
He Xiaoyuan thought for a moment: “I just started working. Haven’t thought about it.”
Lu Chen: “Didn’t have anyone you liked in school?”
He Xiaoyuan smiled: “Too young to understand back then. And in college, I was working part-time—who had time? Besides, who’d like a broke guy in debt?”
He paused, then chuckled: “How did we even get onto this topic?”
…
They chatted a little longer before hanging up.
As He Xiaoyuan walked back to the private room, he received a WeChat transfer from Lu—tonight’s dinner was on him.
He Xiaoyuan smiled, didn’t immediately accept, and typed back: [No need, I’ll pay later.]
Then Lu sent another voice message.
?
He Xiaoyuan picked up, and before he could speak, Lu said, “We agreed—you’re being obedient.”
He Xiaoyuan’s eyes widened slightly; “obedient” sounded half-teasing, half-playful.
He didn’t argue, just smiled: “Alright then.”
After hanging up, He Xiaoyuan accepted the transfer.
He hadn’t realized the amount—one full step made him freeze:
A whole ten thousand.
Now He Xiaoyuan made the voice call.
Upon connection, he couldn’t help laughing: “Lu, we’re just at a normal Japanese place. Not even close to a thousand per person.”
Lu Chen: “Then you guys really don’t eat much.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed harder: “It’s not that we don’t eat much,” Eleven of them had plenty, “it’s just that’s the restaurant’s standard.”
Mimicking Zou Fan, he joked: “Next time I’ll remember—if Lu treats, we pick something expensive.”
Lu Chen: “Better too much than too little. Just pay now.”
He Xiaoyuan: “Alright, I’ll transfer the extra back later.”
Lu Chen: “You just said ‘next time’? That next time is when you treat me.”
He Xiaoyuan realized: Oh, right.
Since they were on the topic, he went ahead and set a time: “Lu, are you free this weekend?”
From the other end, a laugh: “You’re treating me, I’m free anytime.”
He Xiaoyuan thought a moment: “Saturday evening, maybe?”
“Works.”
“Any favorite restaurants or food?”
“Anything’s fine. Your choice.”
He Xiaoyuan teased: “You’re easy to please, huh?”
He decided: “Okay, I’ll pick a place and message you the details on WeChat later.”
“Good.”
From the private room, Zou Fan peeked over and shouted: “Handsome, stop talking and eat. Later, lie in bed all you want.”
The next day, rare without overtime, He Xiaoyuan slept in, had breakfast, tidied the dorm, changed the bedding, and cleaned the fridge.
While mopping, he got a call from Xu Ruomeng. Wearing headphones, he talked while working and remembered he was about to treat Lu. He asked Xu Ruomeng for restaurant recommendations—slightly upscale, good environment, suitable for hosting.
Xu Ruomeng replied immediately: “Oh, you’re taking your Lu out, huh? Let me think…”
She suggested a few restaurants: “I’ve been to these, all good. Perfect for treating someone.”
As they chatted, Xu Ruomeng added: “When you’re done cleaning, go out. I’ll drive you.”
He Xiaoyuan: “Shopping?”
Xu Ruomeng: “Yeah. If you’re treating Lu, better bring a small gift too. You know, some courtesy after all this teaching.”
“Also, since your rotation is over and you’re moving to a new department, you should pay attention to your outfit.”
He Xiaoyuan: “Gift’s ready.”
Xu Ruomeng: “Ah, just go out then.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed: “You just wanted company for shopping, didn’t you?”
Xu Ruomeng: “I want to get my hair done. You come with me. You might as well do yours too.”
Before He Xiaoyuan could refuse, she said, “No saying NO!”
And added: “I’ve got a card! Loaded with ten thousand. My cousin gave it to me.”
“Go!”
An hour later, they walked into a hair salon in the shopping district.
Over three hours later, Xu Ruomeng, hair piled in rollers, looked starstruck at He Xiaoyuan—handsome beyond measure after his new style: “Wahhh! How can my brother be this handsome? How can you be this perfect?!”
Even the stylist, seeing He Xiaoyuan’s new look, felt their skill had been elevated. They offered an extra 30% discount and said: “Handsome, can I take a photo of you? I can recommend this style to other clients later.”
He Xiaoyuan was holding his phone, arranging the restaurant and time with Lu, when he looked up at the sound and saw his reflection in the mirror—his new hairstyle making him look devastatingly handsome. “Sounds good,” he said.
On Sunday afternoon, after showering and styling his hair, He Xiaoyuan pulled out the new clothes he had bought, changed into them, and stood in front of the bathroom mirror to make sure everything was in order. He grabbed his keys, phone, and the small gift he had prepared for Lu, checked the time, and headed out.
Not wanting the hassle of public transport to delay him or affect the meeting, he called a car through an app.
Once in the car, he sent Lu a message: [I’m on my way. See you soon.]
After sending it, he put the phone down and looked out the window, a quiet excitement stirring within him.
Soon, he would see Lu in person.
About an hour later, He Xiaoyuan arrived at the mall where the restaurant was located, taking the escalator to the top floor.
The restaurant was recommended by Xu Ruomeng, and he had also confirmed with others in his team that it had a good environment, high standard, and tasty dishes before booking.
Since it was his first time there, and the mall was large, he wandered around a bit before spotting the restaurant sign.
He Xiaoyuan approached the restaurant, checking the time to ensure he wouldn’t keep Lu waiting.
Even so, he received a message from Lu:
Lu: [Table A16.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Got it. I’m here, on my way.]
He quickened his pace.
At the restaurant, the host greeted him at the entrance and asked about the number of diners. He Xiaoyuan replied, “I have a reservation—Table A16.”
The host gestured and led him inside.
Following the host, He Xiaoyuan took in the layout and style of the restaurant: the main hall tables were open, but the interior had partitions forming private sections. The tables were large with spacious seating and high-quality sofa chairs.
He Xiaoyuan thought the place was perfect for hosting someone.
The host stopped ahead, indicating, “Table A16, right this way.”
He Xiaoyuan looked up in that direction.
At the same time, the man sitting at Table A16 looked up as well.